Reduplicated classifier

Level 3

In Cantonese, repeating a classifier (like 個個 go3 go2) is the most natural way to say 'every' in spoken conversation. It emphasizes each individual member of a group.

How It Works

While formal Cantonese uses 每 (mui5) for 'every', spoken Cantonese prefers reduplicating the classifier.

1. Tone Change (Bin3 jam1):
When reduplicating, the second classifier almost always shifts to a high-rising tone (Tone 2). For example, 個 (go3) becomes 個個 (go3 go2), and 隻 (zek3) becomes 隻隻 (zek3 zek2).

2. The Requirement of 都 (dou1):
This pattern is a distributive quantifier. To 'license' this meaning in a sentence, you usually include the adverb 都 (dou1) before the verb. Without it, the sentence often sounds incomplete.

3. Word Order:
You can place the reduplicated classifier before the noun (Prenominal) or after a plural topic (Postnominal):

  • Prenominal: 個個學生都好勤力 (go3 go2 hok6 saang1 dou1 hou2 kan4 lik6) - 'Every student is hardworking.'
  • Postnominal: 啲學生個個都好勤力 (di1 hok6 saang1 go3 go2 dou1 hou2 kan4 lik6) - 'The students, every one of them is hardworking.'

4. Subject Position:
This pattern usually functions as the subject. If you want to use it as an object (e.g., 'I know everyone'), you usually move it to the front of the sentence as a topic: 個個人我都識 (go3 go2 jan4 ngo5 dou1 sik1).

Examples (5)

  1. 個個同學都好勤力。

    Every student is very hardworking.

    Word by Word: CL CL student all very hardworking

    Here, the general classifier 個 (go3) is doubled to mean 'every student'. Note the use of 都 (dou1) to complete the 'every' meaning.

  2. 呢度啲衫件件都好貴。

    Every single piece of clothing here is expensive.

    Word by Word: Here PL-CL clothes CL CL all very expensive

    件 (gin6) is the classifier for clothes. Doubling it emphasizes that not just 'all' the clothes, but 'every single piece' is expensive.

  3. 隻隻貓都好得意。

    Every cat is cute.

    Word by Word: CL CL cat all very cute

    隻 (zek3) is the classifier for animals. The second 隻 changes to Tone 2 (zek2) in speech.

  4. 份份報紙都係一樣。

    Every newspaper is the same.

    Word by Word: CL CL newspaper all be same

    份 (fan6) is the classifier for newspapers or sets of documents.

  5. 間間房都有窗。

    Every room has a window.

    Word by Word: CL CL room all have window

    間 (gaan1) is the classifier for rooms and buildings.

Common Mistakes

  • Treating 都 (dou1) as required with a reduplicated classifier.

    Different Meaning個個學生好勤力。
    個個學生都好勤力。

    個個學生好勤力 is also natural. Adding 都 (dou1), as in 個個學生都好勤力, is more common and stresses 'every single one'.

  • Using reduplicated classifiers with numbers or demonstratives.

    呢個個個人
    個個人 / 呢啲人

    Reduplicated classifiers replace 'this' (呢 ni1) or numbers. You cannot say 'these every people'.

  • Thinking a reduplicated classifier cannot be an object.

    Different Meaning我識個個人。
    個個人我都識。

    我識個個人 is natural too. Reduplicated classifiers are more often the topic or subject, as in 個個人我都識, which sounds smoother for 'I know everyone'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Reduplicated classifierLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand reduplicated classifiers (CL + CL), you first need a solid grasp of basic classifiers. You also need to understand how the word '都' (dou1) works to express 'all' or 'every', as it is the standard partner for this construction in Cantonese sentences.